Creative Solutions Needed for Issue of Aging Baby
Boomers

July 11, 2005 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - UnumProvident has
issued a report addressing the health and productivity issues
employers will face as the estimated 78 million baby boomers
reach the 40-60 age range.

UnumProvident’s data from its disability database
shows workers over the age of 40 account for 51% of all
short-term disability claims and 74% of all long-term
disability claims. Short-term disability for those under 40
was mostly due to maternity leave, while sickness accounted
for 82% of short-term disability claims for those over
40.
The main causes for long-term disability among the over 40
age group were cancer (17%) and musculo-skeletal disorders
such as an accident or arthritis (25%).
The amount of time it takes an employee to recover from
illness or accident increases as the employee ages, the
company pointed out in a news release.

Employers will need to consider the age factor in
designing appropriate return to work scenarios and in
setting a threshold for number of days of lost time that
will result in termination, UnumProvident said.
Employers need to take measures to manage the rise in
health care costs as well as the loss of experienced
personnel.
The report lists several strategies for management such
as:

targeting educational programs on preventive
strategies and applied interventions that can reduce
the impact of disease on productivity

implementing flexible scheduling and job-sharing
opportunities as part of a phased-in retirement of a
workforce planning strategy so that older workers can
continue to work and pass on knowledge and skills to
the younger work force

creating career pathways to support transitions
from more physically demanding roles to less demanding
ones for older employees

developing productivity pathways for common
impairments experienced by older workers to promote the
safe and timely resumption of work

promoting a culture that respects and utilizes
experience

providing training for older employees to enhance
skills and learn new ones.

UnumProvident’s report used Coors Brewing Company as
an example of an employer that has successfully addressed
the problem.
The company’s programs do not focus specifically on the
older worker, but they effectively deal with the problems
relating to the older worker.
The company offers many health and productivity programs
with incentives to use them, such as a Health Risk
appraisal with a $200 premium reduction incentive, a
wellness center free to employees and retirees, and an
onsite physical therapy and medical center with reduced
co-payments or free care and a $10 co-pay for lab tests,
according to the report.

As the report noted, recognizing and addressing the
connections between the health and productivity of the
aging workforce can pay off for employers by reducing
health care costs and maintaining skills in the
workplace.